Clamp mechanism for rotary car dumper

ABSTRACT

A railroad car is secured for dumping in a rotary car dumping cradle by gravity lowered clamp beams which engage the top of the car and are locked in place by a gravity actuated, infinitely variable locking mechanism that grasps tension members connected to the side of the car dumper.

United States Patent 1191 Ouska CLAMP MECHANISM FOR ROTARY CAR DUMPER[75] Inventor: Ralph C. Ouska, Hinsdale, Ill.

[7 3] Assignee: FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif.

[22] Filed: May 12, 1972 211 App]. Nb; 252,635

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 135,960, April21, 1971, Pat.

52 Us. (:1. .1214/55 51 1m. (:1. 865g 67/54 581 Field of Search 214/55,56

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,606,453 11/1926 Simpson214/55 1 Dec. 4, 1973 l,609,420 12/1926 Norris 214/55 PrimaryExaminer-Robert G. Sheridan AttorneyFrancis W. Anderson et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A railroad car is secured fordumping in a rotary cardumping cradle by gravity lowered clamp beams which engage the top ofthe car and are locked in place by a gravity actuated, infinitelyvariable locking mechanism that grasps tension members connected to theside of the car dumper.

6 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTED 41975 3.776.401

SHEET 10F 8 Ymi PATENTED 41m 3.776.401

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SHEET 7 UP 8 CLAMP MECHANISM FOR ROTARY CAR DUMPER This application is adivision of US. application Ser. No. 135,960 filed Apr, 21, 1971, nowU.S. Pat. No. 3,719,292.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to clampingdevices for a rotary railroad car dumper. More particularly the presentinvention relates to mechanisms for automatically positioning andlocking a railroad car clamping device in a rotary car dumper.

Modern systems for bulk handling of various material such as coal, coke,wood chips or the like generally make use of a car dumper machine forrapidly unloading railraod cars individually, in groups or by the train.Railroad siding tracks pass through the machine to enable a single caror group of cars to be stopped and held inside a cradle that can berotated to turn the railroad car over and empty its contents into ahopper below.

Various clamp mechanisms have been employed to hold the car from fallingaway from the track and supporting table while it is being turned over.Many combinations of cable, sheaves, racks, drums, chains, band brakes,hooks, ratchets and pawls have been employed to lift and hold clampingbeams and hooks in contact with the railroad car body. Gravity, electricmotors, hydraulic cylinders and the motion of the car dumper have beenused to provide I power to operate these mechanisms.

One device presently in use, which is described in US. Pat. No.1,606,453 to Simpson, includes a car dumper having individually actuatedhook members that slide downwardly into engagement'with the sides of arailroad car under the influence of a sheave and rope arrangement. Oncethe car is engaged, the hooks are individually locked by lockingmechanisms comprised of alternate friction plates and clamp bars thatare forced into frictional locking engagement during dumper rotation bythe coaction of a series of wedges and rollers actuated by acounterweight. Another mechanism for clamping a railroad car in a rotarycar dumper, as described in US. Pat. No. 1,609,420 to Norris, utilizesgravity lowered clamping books which are locked into engagement with arailroad car by a locking mechanism having jaws forced together bytoggle-linkage to grasp a vertical bar. The toggle-linkage of thisdevice is actuated by a cable and sheave arrangement.

In all cases, positive operation of the locking clamps is an object ofhigh priority because of the possible disastrous results if the clampsare not firmly locked as the loaded cars are inverted. This problem isparticularly acute in some environments. For example, the contents ofcoal or ore cars operating in extremely cold climates sometimes freezesolid to the body of the car and will not dump when inverted. Thisplaces the gross weight of the loaded car, a weight of perhaps 200 to300 tons directly onto the locking clamps. Thus, while safe lockingclamps are an absolute requirement for all rotary car dumpers, theattainment of a safe locking clamp system without directly or indirectlyapplied power actuation has heretofore been limited to car dumpers whichoperate under conditions more favorablethan extremely cold climate usewhere counterweighted locking clamps might be prone to malfunction.

The car clamp systems now in use have either all or many of thefollowing disadvantages. They are complex mechanisms, subject tojamming, which are difficult and costly to build and install and whichrequire frequent maintenance and adjustment. Some require auxiliarypower, while some require duplicate or back up components to assuresafety under severe load conditions.

Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to providelocking clamps which are automatically operable and safe in all,including sub-zero, temperatures.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamping arrangementwith less complex structural and mechanical components, with less wearand less need for adjustments and with no requirements for auxiliarypower.

Another object of the invention is to provide a positive means oflowering a clamping mechanism into engagement with a railroad car.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means within arailroad car clamping mechanism for relief of forces created by thecompression in railroad car truck springs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, a car clamp isprovided which is positioned and locked only by gravitational forces.These forces are exerted during rotation of the cradle without relianceon auxiliary power or force transmitting cable and with minimumlinkages. In the preferred form of the invention, beam clamps initiallyheld in elevated position by a stationary post, are lowered along guidesby the action of gravity during the dumping cycle to hold a railroad carin place in a rotary car dumper cradle. As the dumper is rotated, thebeam clamps drop into contact with the top of the car, and once in placeatop the car, the clamps are locked in that position. The lockingmechanism utilized to lock the clamps in place is activated by theaction of gravity, as are the clamps, so that no power source, otherthan that used to rotate the cradle, is necessary. An actuating weightmounted at the end of a lever, which changes its moment direction as thedumper is rotated, supplies the force necessary to actuate the lock. Aclamp bar assembly of the lock mechanism is defined by a series ofspaced plates interspersed between a series of parallel spaced metalstrips that are connected to the side of the cradle and are slidablerelative to the spaced plates when the lock mechanism is unlocked. Asthe cradle is rotated beyond 35 of rotation toward the dHin iHgos'iiib'fiih'weighi 555cm shifteausid a series of toggle links, whichare interconnected with the actuating weight lever, to extend. Theextension of the toggle links forces the plates of the lock mechanisminto very tight locking contact with the strips of the clamp barassembly to hold the beam clamps in position on top of the car duringthe dumping cycle. Thus, the clamp is always lowered and locked bygravity forces, and there are no cables to break or jam.

A further feature of this invention incorporates positive lowering ofthe beam clamps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective of one type ofrotary car dumper incorporating the clamping means of the presentinvention with portions being broken away.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic perspective illustrating one of thetwo beam clamps shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic end elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1with the near circular cradle end removed.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective of the locking mechanism of thepresent invention with parts removed.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along line 55 of FIG. 2showing the upper guide rollers of the clamp hook assembly.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along line 66 of FIG. 2as viewed from below showing the guide rollers on one side of the clampassembly.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the locking mechanism of thepresent invention with portions being broken away.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal section of the locking mechanism taken along line88 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a vertical section of the locking mechanism taken along line99 of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 10, 1 1, 12 and 13 are diagrammatic end elevations of theapparatus shown in FIG. 1, in four operational positions.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are fragmentary diagrammatic end elevation of a secondembodiment showing the positive clamp lowering mechanism in twooperational positions.

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic perspective of the clamping mechanismincorporating positive clamp lowering with parts removed.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary plan view of the clamping mechanism of FIG. 16.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3,there is shown the general organization of the preferred form of theinvention in which a railroad car R is supported within a rotatablecradle structure of a rotary car dumper 32. The open-top car R is heldfor rotation within the cradle structure 30 by two clamp mechanisms 34.The cradle structure 30 is rotated by a drive system 36 into position todump the contents of the railroad car down a chute 31.

More specifically, the cradle 30 of the rotary car dumper 32 is anessentially U-shaped structure. The U- shaped cradle 30 is constructedof longitudinal horizontal beams 38, 40 and 42 that are rigidly securedbetween a pair of circular ends 44 and 46, vertical beams 48 and 48a anddiagonal members 50 and 50a secured between the horizontal members togive structural rigidity to the cradle structure, and cross beams 52that extend transversely between the lower horizontal members 42. Aplatform 54 that extends the length of the cradle structure and throughopenings 58 in the circular ends is supported on parallel support beams56 that overlie the transverse beams 52. The ends of the platform 54 arecontiguous to walls 60 of a pit 62 in which the car dumper is disposed.Rails 64 overlie the platform 54 and support the car R for movement intoand out of the cradle through the openings 58. The rails 64 are inlinear alignment with rails 66 on the surface inlet and discharge sidesof the pit.

Cradle 30 is supported for rotation on four rollers 68 which arerotatively supported on support members 70 anchored in the base of thepit. Tracks 71 extend partially about the periphery of each of thecircular ends 44 and 46 and mate with the rollers 68 that support thecradle in rotation.

Power for rotating the cradle 30 is supplied by a reversible electricmotor-gear reducer unit M (FIG. 1) which has power shafts 72 each ofwhich tenninates near one of the cradle ends 44 and 46. A pinion gear(not shown) at the end of each shaft 72 drives a large ring gear (notshown) which is part of a cable winch 74. A cable 76 of each winch isspirally wound on a drum 78 of the winch 74 and has ends secured byanchors 79 to the respective cradle ends 44 and 46 for rotation of thecradle 30 to the dumping position, and for the return of the cradle fromthe dumping position, as the motor unit M is energized.

The clamping mechanisms 34 are supported within the cradle 30 by twovertical support members or trusses 82 which are secured to thehorizontal beams 38, 40 and 42 near each of the circular ends 44 and 46.Each of the support members 82 is constructed of beams 820 securedtogether in a spaced parallel orientation to present a slot 84 (FIG. 8)therebetween.

Each of the clamping mechanisms or car securing members 34 is identicalin structure to the other and functions independently of the other. Eachclamping mechanism includes a carriage 88 having an upright member 90(FIG. 2) mounted for endwise movement on a pair of rails 86, an uppertransverse member 92 rigidly secured to the upright member 90 andextending inwardly of the cradle, a lower transverse member or lift beam94 rigidly attached to the upright member 90 and extending outwardlyfrom the cradle through the slot 84 in the vertical support member 82,and a clamp beam 96 suspended from the upper transverse member, aclamping element 98 (FIG. 7) secured at either end to the truss 82 andextending vertically in the slot 84 of vertical support member 82, and avertically extending post or lift member 100 secured to the surfaceadjacent the cradle structure.

The upright member 90 (FIGS. 2, 6 and 7) is an elongated rectangularstructure that engages the rails 86. A combination of rollers andbearing bars attached to the upright member 90 contact the rails 86 andguide movement of the upright member 90 relative to the rails 86. Therollers are positioned for maximum contact with the rails 86 as thecradle overturns. At the top of the upright member 90 one pair ofrollers 102 is positioned (FIGS. 2 and 5) such that they contact theinner edges of rails 86. A second pair of rollers 104, attached near thetop of the upright member 90, is positioned to engage the rear surfaces86a of the rails. A pair of bearing bars 106 secured to the uprightmember abut the opposite or front faces 86b of the rails 86 and providea secondary contact surface as the upright member moves relative to therails 86.

A pair of rollers 108 (only one being shown in FIGS. 2 and 6) secured tothe lower end of the upright member 90 engage the front faces 86b of therails 86. Another pair of rollers 110 (FIGS. 2 and 6), mounted onbrackets 112 at the lower end of the upright member 90, follow the outeredges of rails 86. Bearing bars or shoes 1 14, (FIG. 6) which aresecured to the lower portion of the upright member 90, contact the backfaces 86a of rails 86.

The upper transverse arm 92 is constructed of spaced parallel plates 92a(FIG. 2) which are rigidly secured at one end to the upright member 90.At the other end of the transverse arm 92, clamp beam 96 is disposed ina slot between the plates 92a on a pivot pin 116 that extends throughthe plates 92a. Pivot pin 116 is retained at the ends by collars 116asecured to the plates 92a and to the pin 116. The clamp beam 96 which ispivoted at its center on pin 116 includes a horizontal center portion96a and arms 96b extending diagonally downwardly from the horizontalportion. Clamp pads 118 and 120 are secured to arms 96b for engagementwith the sides of an open-top car R. Vertically disposed channel members122 (FIG. 1), which are secured to the cradle opposite the verticalsupport members 82, serve to guide the outer contact pads 120 asthe-clamp beam 96 moves up or down relative to the cradle 30.

The lower transverse arm 94 includes a pair of beams 94a (FIGS. 2 and 8)rigidly secured in spaced, parallel relationship. A roller or cam 124 issecured for rotation on a shaft 126 between the outer ends of the beams94a. The roller 124 contacts an inclined upper surface of the verticalpost 100 when the cradle is in the upright position. I

A locking mechanism 128 that engages the clamping element 98 is securedbetween a pair of clamp brackets 134 (FIG. 9) that overlie the beams94a. The clamp brackets 134 are rigidly secured to the upper surfaces ofthe beams 94a. Hold down brackets 135 are secured between the clampbrackets 134 and the upright member 90 to add structural rigidity.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9 the locking mechanism or grippingmemeber 128 is illustrated in its preferred form. In general the lockingmechanism consists of interconnected linkage 129 which is actuatedduring cradle rotation by the change of position of actuating weight 130to force a series of spaced pressure plates 132 into frictional lockingengagement with a series of elongated strips 98a of the clamping elementbar assembly 98. v

More specifically, locking mechanism 128 which is contained within theclamp brackets 134, includes the series of spaced pressure plates orsecond contact members 132 that are interspersed between elongatedstrips or first contact members 98a of the clamp bar assembly 98 asillustrated by FIGS. 4 and 7. The elongated strips 98a are permanentlyspaced at the upper and lower points of connection by spacers 136 (FIG.3) which are placed between alternate strips 98a on connection shafts137. The pressure plates 132, which are slidable relative to the strips98a when the locking mechanism 128 is unlocked, are held and restrainedfrom movement relative to the lock mechanism by the clamp brackets 134(FIG. 9). A spacer or pressure block 138, (FIG. 4), which is arectangular block bolted between clamp brackets 134, maintains thespacing of the clamp brackets134 and provides a fixed abutment againstwhich the pressure plates 132 and strips 98a are forced during clamplocking.

The toggle linkage 129 (FIGS. 4 and 7), which is actuated to force thepressure plates 132 and strips 98a into locking engagement, includes apivot block 140 that is pivotally anchored on shaft 142 to clampbrackets 134. Shaft 142 is retained at its ends by keys 142b that aresecured to the clamp brackets 134. Four fingers 140a of the pivot block140 extend to the left (FIGS. 4 and 8) and pivotally interdigitate witha pair of toggle links 144 and lever link 146 which are on a commonshaft 148. Shaft 148 is retained at its ends by the machined innersurfaces of the clamp brackets 134. A stop member 150 of shockcushioning material limits the upward travel of the toggle linkage whenthe lock mechanism is in the released position of FIG. 7.

The left ends (FIGS. 4, 7 and 8) of the two links 144 extend intoparallel slots 152a in pressure block 152. The pressure block 152 is arectangular metal block having a machined exterior and having anindentation l52b formed in one face to receive a pressure plate 154 thatis bolted to the pressure block 152. The ends of links 144 which extendinto slots 1520 are rigidly secured to a shaft 156 that extends throughthe pressure block 152 and is bushed for rotation therein. Pressureblock 152 is retained by the machined inner surfaces of clamp brackets134 which provide a bearing surface for sliding movement of the pressureblock 152. The ends of shaft 156 are also retained by the inner surfacesof clamp brackets 134.

The lower end of link 146 (FIGS. 4 and 7) is pivotally connected to anactuating lever 158 to which the actuating weight or element 130 isattached. Lever 158, which is constructed of spaced parallel plates 158a(FIG. 4), is pivoted on a shaft 160 that is anchored to lift beam 94 bymeans of keys 160a (FIG. 2). Link 146 is disposed for movement in theslot between the parallel plates 158a and is pivoted on shaft 162 whichis fixed at its ends to plates 158a.

Having thus described the structure of the preferred embodiment of theinvention, its operation can now be explained. When the dumper 32 is inits initial upright position (FIG. 10) with the railroad car R upright,the clamp beam 96 is held up clear of the railroad car. The roller 124at the end of beam 94 is in contact with the inclined upper surface ofthe lift post when the dumper is in this initial position and the clamplocking mechanism 128 is unlocked. Once the railroad car R is positionedproperly inside the dumper cradle 30 the dumper motor M is energizedcausing the cradle to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about alongitudinal rotational axis L towards the dumping position. As rotationproceeds the carriage 88 holding the clamp beam 96, which is above andclear of the car (FIG. 10), begins to drop by its own weight due to theforce of gravity. The clamping mechanism 34 continues to drop uniformlywith the roller 124 in contact with lift post 100 until the clamp beam96 contacts the top edges of the car sides, whereupon clamp loweringstops. Rotation continues and the roller 124 loses contact with the liftpost 100. At about 35 cradle rotation (FIG. 1 1) the center of gravityof the clamp lock actuating weight passes directly over the pivot pointof the actuating lever 158 with a consequent change in the momentdirection of the weight 130 from a clockwise to a counterclockwisedirection. As the moment direction of weight 130 changes, tension isplaced on the lever link 146. The lever link 146 in turn transfers theactuating weight moment to shaft 148 tending to bring the fingers a ofpivot block 140 and the toggle links 144 to a more linear orientation.This causes the extended toggle links 144 to force pressure bracket 152to the left (FIGS. 4 and 7), transmitting pressure to the pressureplates 132, the clamp bar assembly 98 and the pressure block 138. Thepressure plates 132 and the strips or bars 98a of the clamp bar assembly98 are thus forced into a very tight frictional engagement which stopsthe sliding motion of the pressure plates 132 relative to the clamp barassembly 98a and locks the clamp beam 96 against the top edge of the carR.

As the dumper continues to rotate the actuating weight 130 moment keepsthe lock tightly engaged. Material in the car begins to fall out (FIG.12) as the car overturns and the dumping process is usually completed bythe time the dumper has rotated to the 160 position. The materialfalling from the car drops into chutes 31 below the cradle which conductthe material to below ground conveyors. After all material has beendumped, or when 180 rotation (FIG. 13) is reached, the dumper motor M isreversed. The car springs which were originally compressed by theload'of the material on the car are now held in compression by theclamps 96 which are locked in place. As the 35 point is approached onthe return cycle, the actuating weight moment diminishes, reducing theclamp locking pressure to the point at which the pressure plates 132will again slip in relation to the bars 98a of the clamp bar assembly 98and gradually release the compression of the railroad car springs. Below35 of rotation, the clamp lock 128 is fully released as the roller 124again contacts the upper face of the lift post 100. With roller 124 incontact with post 100, as the cradle rotates to the starting position,the carriage 88 is urged upwardly relative to support member 82, and theclamp beam 96, which is swung from the carriage 88, is lifted out ofcontact with car R. As the upright position is again reached, rotationand upwward lifting of the clamp mechanism 80 stops and the railroad carR is ready to be moved out of the dumper 32. If the dumper 32 is to berotated without a car R in place, all operations are the same exceptthat the clamp 96 travels to a stop at a minimum car height and the liftroller 124 moves off of the lift post 100 at about 35 rotation of thecradle.

A further embodiment of the present invention (FIGS. 14, 15, 16 and 17)incorporates a positive clamp lowering mechanism 170 into a clampmechanism 172 equivalent to that described previously. The positiveclamp lowering mechanism is utilized to positively lower the clampingmechanism in case it should jam. The clamping mechanism 172 of thisembodiment includes a carriage 174 having an upright member 176 mountedin a manner identical to that of the previous embodiment, an uppertransverse member 178 from which a clamp beam 180 is suspended extendinginwardly of the cradle from the upright member, a lift beam 182 and alock mechanism identical to that described previously, and the positiveclamp lowering mechanism 170.

The clamp beam 180 of this embodiment (FIG. 16) is pivotally swung on apivot pin 184 between parallel arms 178a of transverse member 178. Thepin 184, which is rigidly secured to the clamp beam, is disposed forvertical travel relative to arms 178a in slots 178b. The pin 184 alsoextends through two parallel spaced arms 186a of lock lever 186. Thespaced arms 186a are pivoted at their left ends (FIG. 14) to thetransverse member 178 on pins 188. A depending curved member 186b oflock lever 186 is secured between the right ends (FIG. 14) of arms 186a.

Another lever, lock arm or hook 190, (FIGS. 14 and is pivotally mountedon a common shaft 192 with a roller 194 at the end of lift beam 182. AU-shaped slot 190a is formed near the lower end of lock arm 190 forengagement with a horizontal pin or lock stud 196 that extends fromliftpost 198. A flexible cable 200 attached to the lower end of the curvedmember 186b of lock lever 186 extends through the central portion ofupright member 176 and along lift beam 182 to lock arm 190 to which thecable is pivotally connected. A vertically depending rod 202 is alsoconnected to the lower end of member 186b and extends downwardly throughupright member 176 and beyond the lower end of the upright member 176.

In operation a railroad car R is moved into position within the rotarycar dumper. The dumper motor is energized and the dumper begins torotate in a counterclockwise direction (FIGS. 14 and 15). At the startof rotation, pivot pin 184 is at the bottom of the slot 178b in which itis disposed and lock lever 186 is in the position of FIG. 14. At thispoint the lock arm 190 is in locked engagement with the pin 196 (FIG.14) extending from lift post 198.

As rotation proceeeds, clamp beam 180, which is above and clear of carR, is lowered as the carriage 174, to which the clamp beam 180 isconnected, lowers on its guides under the force of gravity. However, ifthe clamp mechanism hangs up and doesnt lower properly, lock arm 190,which is in engagement with pin 196, will prevent the roller 194 fromleaving contact with the lift post 198 and the clamp mechanism will bepositively lowered. Clamp lowering, with lock ann 190 in engagement withpin 196, continues until the clamp beam 180 contacts the top edge of thecar sides and stops. The upright member 176 from which transverse arm178 extends continues to drop as pivot pin 184, which is rigidlyattached to both the clamp beam 180 and lock lever 186, moves upwardlyin the slots 17812 in transverse member 178. Lock lever 186 is thuspivoted upwardly or in a counterclockwise direction (FIGS. 14 and 15)about pins 188. The motion of lever 186 is transmitted through cable 200to the lock arm or hook 190 which is pulled by the cable in acounterclockwise direction (FIGS. 14 and 15) about shaft 192 and out ofengagement with pin 196. When pivot pin 184 reaches the top of slots1781;, the upright member 176 stops its downward movement and the nowfreed roller 194 leaves contact with lift post 198. As rotationcontinues the locking mechanism locks the clamp beam in contact with thetop of the rail car R exactly as described in the previous embodimentand the car is rotated to the dump position.

After the contents of the rail car have been dumped and the car dumperis on the return phase of the dump cycle, the locking mechanism 170disengages as the car reaches a point that is 35 from the uprightposition, as explained in the previous embodiment. Roller 194 againcontacts lift post 198 as rotation continues and the clamping mechanism172 is urged upwardly. The clamp beam 180 remains in contact with thetop of car R until pivot pin 184 reaches the bottom of slots 178b in thetransverse member 178. As pin 184 travels downwardly in the slots 178b,lock lever 186 retraces its original path and rotates clockwise to theposition of FIG. 14. Cable 200 imparts a clockwise motion (FIGS. 14 and15) also to lock arm which is rotated again into locking engagement withpin 196.

If a car dumper, incorporating the positive clamp lowering mechanism, isrotated without a railroad car in place, the lock arm 190 will stilldisengage from lock stud 196 even though the clamp beam doesn't come incontact with the top of a rail car. As the clamp mechanism is lowered toa position equivalent to a minimum car height, the lock release rod 202contacts a stop or cam 204 which pivots the lock lever 186counterclockwise to disconnect the lock arm 190 from pin 196 in theexact sequence as described above, except that the lock lever isactuated by rod 202 rather than pin 184. As the cradle is returned tothe starting position (FIG. 14) with carriage 174 being raised upwardly,lock lever 186 drops to the position of FIG. 14 with the disengagementof rod 202 from stop 204 causing lock arm 190 to swing back intoengagement with stud 196.

Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the presentinvention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent thatmodification and variation may be made without departing from what isregarded to be the subject matter of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rotary car dumper having a rotatable cradle to support a car anda drive system for rotation of the cradle through a dump cycle between astarting position and a dump position, the improvement comprising, incombination, a car securing member having a clamp beam for engagementwith the car, said car securing member being slidably supported in thecradle, a stationary lift member adjacent the cradle, said lift memberbeing engaged by the car securing member until the clamp beam of the carsecuring member is lowered into contact with the car on rotation-of thecradle toward the dump position and said lift member being engaged bythe securing member for raising the clamp beam of the car securingmember up from the car on return of the cradle to the starting position,elongated strips on the cradle, pressure plates on the car securingmember interspersed with the elongated strips, an actuating element inthe cradle, means responsive to movement of the actuating element at apredetermined angle of cradle rotation for forcing the strips and platestogether to lock the clamp beam in position on the car, a lock member onthe car securing member and a lock member on the lift member, and meansto effect cooperattacts the car.

3. In a rotary car dumper having a rotatable cradle to support a car inrotation between an upright position and a dump position, theimprovement comprising in combination, a car securing member having aclamp beam for engagement with the car, said car securing memberslidably supported in the cradle, a stationary lift member adjacent thecradle, said lift member being engaged by the car securing member untilthe clamp beam of the car securing member is lowered into contact withthe car on rotation of the cradle to the dump position and said liftmember being engaged by the securing member for urging the securingmember up from thecar on return of the cradle to the upright position, alock member on the car securing member and a lock member on the liftmember, and means to effect cooperating engagement of said lock memberswhen the car securing member is disengaged from the car for positivelylowering the car securing member with the clamp beam into engagementwith the car.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said lock member on the car securingmember comprises a hook operatively connected between the securingmember and the lift member to hold the securing member in contact withthe lift member as the cradle rotates and wherein a lever isinterconnected between the clamp beam and the hook for disengagement ofthe hook from the lift membr as the clamp beam contacts the car.

5. In a rotary car dumper having a rotatable frame and having meanssecured to the frame to support a railroad car, a clamp mechanismslidable with respect to the frame and having a clamp member to engagethe railroad car when not lifted, a stationary lift member adjacent therotatable dumper frame for engagement with the clamp mechanism onrotation of the car dumper frame in a predetermined direction to raisethe clamp member from the car and for disengagement from the clampmechanism on rotation of the car dumper frame in the opposite directionto lower the clamp member toward the car, a lock member operable tosecure the clamp mechanism to the lift member, and means responsive toengagement of the clamp member with the car to release the lock memberand free the clamp mechanism from the therefor lift member.

' 6. In a rotary car dumper having a rotatable frame and having meanssecured to the frame to support a railroad car, a clamp mechanismslidable on the frame and having a clamp member connected theretothrough a lost motion connection to engage the railroad car when notlifted, a stationary lift member adjacent the rotatable frame forengagement with the clamp mechanism on rotation of the frame in apredetermined direction to raise the clamp member from the car and fordisengagement from the clamp mechanism on rotation of the frame in theopposite direction to lower the clamp member toward the car, a lockmember operable when actuated in one direction to secure the clampmechanism to the lift member and operable when actuated in the oppositedirection to release the clamp mechanism from the lift member, and meansincluding an actuating member connected between the lock member and theclamp member to actuate the lock member in said one direction when theclamp member is shifted with respect to the clamp mechanism ondisengagement of the clamp member from the car and to actuate the lockmember in the opposite direction when the clamp member is shiftedoppositely with respect to the clamp mechanism on engagement of theclamp member with the car.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 13,776,401

DATED December 4, 1973 INVENTOR(S) Ralph C. Ouska It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

0 Col. 1, line 5, change "Apr, 21" to --Apr. 2l. Col. 5, line 33, change"memeber" to --member--. Col. 7, line 30, change "upward." to -upward--.Col. 8, line 19, change "proceeeds" to proceeds. Col. 10, line 18,change "membr" to -member;

Col. 10, line 34, delete "therefor" Signed and Sealed thus second Day OfSeptember 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (vmmr'ssr'vnvrofParenls and Trademarks D

1. In a rotary car dumper having a rotatable cradle to support a car anda drive system for rotation of the cradle through a dump cycle between astarting position and a dump position, the improvement comprising, incombination, a car securing member having a clamp beam for engagementwith the car, said car securing member being slidably supported in thecradle, a stationary lift member adjacent the cradle, said lift memberbeing engaged by the car securing member until the clamp beam of the carsecuring member is lowered into contact with the car on rotation of thecradle toward the dump position and said lift member being engaged bythe securing member for raising the clamp beam of the car securingmember up from the car on return of the cradle to the starting position,elongated strips on the cradle, pressure plates on the car securingmember interspersed with the elongated strips, an actuating element inthe cradle, means responsive to movement of the actuating element at apredetermined angle of cradle rotation for forcing the strips and platestogether to lock the clamp beam in position on the car, a lock member onthe car securing member and a lock member on the lift member, and meansto effect cooperating engagement of said lock members when the carsecuring member is disengaged from the car for positively lowering thecar securing member to the car.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein oneof said lock members comprises a hook operatively connected between thecar securing member and the lift member to hold the car securing memberin contact with the lift member as the cradle rotates and wherein alever is interconnected between the clamp beam and the hook fordisengagement of the hook as the clamp beam contacts the car.
 3. In arotary car dumper having a rotatable cradle to support a car in rotationbetween an upright position and a dump position, the improvementcomprising in combination, a car securing member having a clamp beam forengagement with the car, said car securing member slidably supported inthe cradle, a stationary lift member adjacent the cradle, said liftmember being engaged by the car securing member until the clamp beam ofthe car securing member is lowered into contact with the car on rotationof the cradle to the dump position and said lift member being engaged bythe securing member for urging the securing member up from the car onreturn of the cradle to the upright position, a lock member on the carsecuring member and a lock member on the lift member, and means toeffect cooperating engagement of said lock members when the car securingmember is disengaged from the car for positively lowering the carsecuring member with the clamp beam into engagement with the car.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 3 wherein said lock member on the car securing membercomprises a hook operatively connected between the securing member andthe lift member to hold the securing member in contact with the liftmember as the cradle rotates and wherein a lever is interconnectedbetween the clamp beam and the hook for disengagement of the hook fromthe lift membr as the clamp beam contacts the car.
 5. In a rotary cardumper having a rotatable frame and having means secured to the frame tosupport a railroad car, a clamp mechanism slidable with respect to theframe and having a clamp member to engage the railroad car when notlifted, a stationary lift member adjacent the rotatable dumper frame forengagement with the clamp mechanism on rotation of the car dumper framein a predetermined direction to raise the clamp member from the car andfor disengagement from the clamp mechanism on rotation of the car dumperframe in the opposite direction to lower the clamp member toward thecar, a lock member operable to secure the clamp mechanism to the liftmember, and means responsive to engagement of the clamp member with thecar to release the lock member and free the clamp mechanism from thetherefor lift member.
 6. In a rotary car dumper having a rotatable frameand having means secured to the frame to support a railroad car, a clampmechanism slidable on the frame and having a clamp member connectedthereto through a lost motion connection to engage the railroad car whennot lifted, a stationary lift member adjacent the rotatable frame forengagement with the clamp mechanism on rotation of the frame in apredetermined direction to raise the clamp member from the car and fordisengagement from the clamp mechanism on rotation of the frame in theopposite direction to lower the clamp member toward the car, a lockmember operable when actuated in one direction to secure the clampmechanism to the lift member and operable when actuated in the oppositedirection to release the clamp mechanism from the lift member, and meansincluding an actuating member connected between the lock member and theclamp member to actuate the lock member in said one direction when theclamp member is shifted with respect to the clamp mechanism ondisengagement of the clamp member from the car and to actuate the lockmember in the opposite direction when the clamp member is shiftedoppositely with respect to the clamp mechanism on engagement of theclamp member with the car.